How do Teeth Fall Out?

Losing Teeth as a Child vs. an Adult

As a child, losing a tooth is one of the most exciting things that can occur. Your parents tell you that you’re growing up, you get a visit from the Tooth Fairy, your pictures are all cooed over by adults, and you get to have the fun experience of getting your adult teeth to come in. Truly, losing your teeth as a child is a sign of maturity, and it marks a new exciting chapter in your life.

As an adult, however, losing your teeth is less exciting. When we lose a tooth as an adult, we can feel self-conscious and embarrassed, especially if the missing tooth is not easy to hide. When we have missing teeth, we can end up becoming more antisocial, can allow our health to decline, and can end up visiting the dentist less due to frustration. It’s important to remember that, today, there are many fixes for a lost tooth available and that your dentist is the person to talk to about loose or lost teeth to help you regain your confidence and happiness.

Why do Our Teeth Fall Out?

As children, teeth fall out due to our biology. We need room for our adult teeth to go, so our baby teeth fall out. As adults, our teeth will fall out, typically, for one of two reasons: physical damage or disease. As we age, our ability to be involved in more physical accidents can increase, which can increase our risk of losing a tooth. Playing a sport, getting into a fight, being involved in a car accident, or biting down on something you shouldn’t can all cause a tooth to fall out. Being careful in your activities and wearing protective gear when necessary can help keep your teeth safe, but this will not guarantee your teeth will be safe.

The second reason adult teeth will fall out is due to disease. Most commonly, periodontitis is the reason that teeth will fall out in adults. This disease is an inflammation and infection of the structures that support the teeth, allowing the teeth to become loose. This disease is a result of untreated gingivitis, which will infect the mouth further than the gums when it is not taken care of. To treat this issue before teeth fall out, you must see a dentist to be diagnosed, and then the dentist will either do some deep cleaning, will help to build new supports for your teeth, or will remove infected teeth to help your mouth as a whole.

Lost teeth can occur in anyone’s life, but it’s important to remember that many people have missing teeth and that a visit to your dentist can help you know your options in having your missing tooth fixed so that you can lead a normal and healthy life.

Dentist in Del Mar, California for You

When you lose a tooth, it’s important not to fret, but to rather see a dentist about your condition. At the Del Mar, California dental office of Curtis L. Chan, D.D.S., we can help you after you lose a tooth, and we can help you avoid losing any more. We are trained to handle cases such as this, and we are confident we can help you. Call our San Diego, California office today to schedule an appointment to see how we can assist you at (858) 481-9090.